Exogenous secreted frizzled-related protein-4 modulates steroidogenesis of rat granulosa cells through Wnt/beta-catenin and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways

ABSTRACT

Background: It has been reported that secreted frizzled-related protein-4 known as an antagonist of Wnt signaling pathway plays a role in luteinization process of rodent granulosa cells. The purpose of this study was twofold 1] to determine whether recombinant human secreted frizzled-related protein-4 [rhSFRP-4] could directly induce terminal differentiation of rat Granulosa Cells [GCs] and 2] to understand how the modulation of beta-catenin and Protein Kinase B [PKB]/AKT activity by exogenous SFRP-4 could be involved in steroidogenesis